Natural Environment

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The current David L. Lawrence Convention Center stands on the same site as the original. Reusing an already-developed location, a brownfield site, prevented additional loss of downtown open space and reduced the need to build excess roads and utilities to accommodate the new facility.

All efforts were made to ensure that the construction phase was as low-impact as possible. Conventional construction practices generate about two pounds of solid waste per square foot, most of which is reusable or recyclable. To avoid construction waste, over 95% of the demolition waste from the original building was reused as fill for the new building, and 92% of all the construction and demolition waste was reused or recycled. This kept over 53,000 tons of waste out of landfills.

Over half of the construction materials used was produced within five hundred miles of Pittsburgh, benefiting the local economy as well as reducing the environmental impact of transportation. Thanks to its downtown location, these benefits continue during the daily operation of the building. In 2017, the DLCC welcomed almost 600,000 visitors. With easy access to public transportation and downtown Pittsburgh’s cultural attractions and amenities, the resulting $86+ million in direct spending helped support and revitalize greater Pittsburgh’s urban core.

In downtown Pittsburgh's cultural district, the DLCC is within steps of theatres, cinemas, galleries, museums, restaurants, hotels, PPG Paints Arena (Penguins Hockey), and across the bridge from PNC Park (Pirates Baseball) and Heinz Field (Steelers and Pitt Panthers Football).